Learning the Faith by Heart
Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together
The Week of Feb. 22 – March 1, 2026
Preparing for the Second Sunday in Lent
Hymn of the Week: Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart (708)
Catechism Memory: Review Apostles’ Creed (All) and Explanations (2+)
Bible Verse Memory: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16
Monday: Catechism: Review the Apostles’ Creed
We can learn something about God from His creation and our conscience, but we are only able to know the true God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – through the Bible. The Apostles’ Creed gives us a summary of what the Bible teaches about God. How would you describe to a friend who God is and what He has done for you? Use the Bible and the Apostles’ Creed to guide you in your answer.
Tuesday: Old Testament – Genesis 12:1-9
God called Abram out of idolatry, in which he deserved nothing but condemnation and eternal death. It was purely by God’s grace, not because of any worthiness or goodness in Abram, that God promised to bless him. Abram believed God’s promise and it was counted to him as righteousness. What does this say about God’s blessing us? Does it depend on our goodness? Or God’s grace (His undeserved favor toward sinners on account of Christ)?
Wednesday: “Book of Job: Blessed be the Name of the Lord” Lenten Sermon Series – Job 1:13-21
This Lent we will consider the wisdom of God regarding suffering found in the book of Job; and ultimately in Jesus. Read Job 1:13-21. Can you relate with Job’s catastrophes? How so? What is the first thing Job did when he learned about his tragedies? Why did Job bless God’s name? What name of God giver you courage and strength in your trials? Will you bless that name?
Thursday: Epistle – Romans 4:1-8, 13-17
God’s Word can be divided into commands and promises. A command is something you keep by “doing”. A promise is kept by “believing.” If I give you the command to run a marathon with me, it makes no sense for you to say, “Pastor, I believe you.” I didn’t give you a promise to believe, but a command to do. The Gospel is the promise of the forgiveness of sins on account of Christ’s perfect work on your behalf. He did all the work. There’s nothing left to do. No work. No command. Would it make sense to respond to the Gospel by saying, “okay, I’ll do it?”
Friday: Holy Gospel – John 3:1-17
Should Lutherans give to the needy as a spiritual discipline? Is it good, right, and salutary for us to do? Jesus thought so. He says, “WHEN you give to the needy…” (Matt 6:2). Christians from ancient times have practiced almsgiving as a natural counterpart to the spiritual discipline of fasting. If you are not eating food, it can be used to bless someone else. Giving to the needy is not good for earning God’s favor or manipulating Him to bless you, but it is good for crucifying selfish desires. How does giving to the needy help you put your sinful flesh to death?
The Order of Meditation and Prayer
The sign of the cross + may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism
Invocation
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in the God the Father Almighty…
Verse of the Week
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16
Bible Reading for the Day (From Upcoming Readings for Sun, Portals of Prayer, or other Daily meditation)
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn of the Week
Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart (708)
Catechism Memory
Review Apostles’ Creed (All) and Explanations (2+) on pages 322-323 of your hymnal.
Family Prayers
For___________________, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord’s Prayer
Taught by our Lord and trusting in His promises, we are bold to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven